Apparatus for automatic packing with bands

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for automatically and successively binding with bands objects of different sizes to be packed in packing boxes or the like. The apparatus has push rods for feeding objects to be bound with bands to a band-binding means, a plurality of selection means for binding positions located between the bandbinding means and the push rods at different intervals corresponding to the band binding positions, means for reducing the running speed of each selection means corresponding to the distance from the band-binding means with respect to the running velocity of the push rods, and means for stopping the selection means for the band-binding positions when the objects reach a point just ahead of the band-binding means, the push rods being actuated at every stop position of each selection means to effect band-binding.

United States Patent [191 Mae et al.

[ APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC PACKING WITH BANDS [76] Inventors: Shinroku Mae, 14-1, Ukima 3-Chome, Kita-ku; Motosuke Umezu, 13-5, Sendagaya 3- Chome, Shibuya-ku, both of Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Sept. 30, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 510,870

[52] US. Cl. 53/76; 53/67; 53/198; 100/14 [51] Int. Cl. B65B 57/12 [58] Field of Search 53/67, 75, 76, 198; 100/4, 100/ 14 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,626 7/1954 Eberle 100/14 X 3,294,012 12/1066 Kobiella 53/75 X Nov. 4, 1975 Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-John Sipos Attorney, Agent, or FirmWenderoth, Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for automatically and successively binding with bands objects of different sizes to be packed in packing boxes or the like. The apparatus has push rods for feeding objects to be bound with bands to a band-binding means, a plurality of selection means for binding positions located between the band-binding means and the push rods at different intervals corresponding to the band binding positions, means for reducing the running speed of each selection means corresponding to the distance from the band-binding means with respect to the running velocity of the push rods, and means for stopping the selection means for the band-binding positions when the objects reach a point just aheadof the band-binding means, the push rods being actuated at every stop position of each selection means to effect band-binding.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,916,599

Sheet 2 of 4 3,916,599

US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 nmm US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,916,599

US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,916,599

Fig-7(8) Fig-7(A) Fig-8 T51 P1 P51 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC PACKING WITH BANDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for binding with bands in which objects to be bound with bands are put in sequence in the fixed position into an automatic band-binding means and the band-binding operation is automatically effected at several places on each object.

When it is desired to automatically and successively bind with bands objects which are continuously fed to an apparatus for binding with bands by means of a conveyer system (not shown) arranged in front of and at the back of said apparatus, an operator has only to watch whether or not the objects to be bound with bands are fed in order to the apparatus, if packing positions are detected by the apparatus and therefore, it is possible to achieve a sharp reduction in working personnel and in the number of the work burden.

Most manufactured products produced in large quantities are packed in cartons or wooden cases for shipping. In addition, in most cases, such packed articles are bound with bands to prevent disorder thereof.

If the size of objects to be bound with bands is fixed, it will be easy to select automatically the positions where the objects to be bound with bands are bound with bands. On the contrary, if objects of different sizes to be bound with bands are fed in a random sequence to a band-binding means, it will be necessary to distinguish the sizes of the objects and to provide means for effecting the band-binding operation at desired positions.

Apparatus for packing with bands according to the prior art was effectively usable for objects of a fixed size which were to be packed with bands, but was not capable of banding objects of different sizes supplied in a random sequence because such apparatus had no ability to measure the sizes of the objects to be bound with bands. There has been as yet no proposal of a mechanism for selecting band-binding positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is intended to provide an apparatus for automatically and successively binding with bands objects of different sizes to be bound with bands at predetermined binding positions in a process of binding boxes or the like.

According to the present invention, all of the articles including corrugated cardboard boxes, wooden materials such as veneer boards and metallic products in the form of a cylinder, plate, or the like can be bound with bands and, as will be described in detail in the specification, any article that can be put between a bandbinding means and a starting point of the operation of push rods can be bound with bands at predetermined positions.

The apparatus for binding with bands of the present invention is such that an object to be bound with bands is transported by conveyers, measured in length during transportation prior to arrival at the band-binding means, put in the means after selection of the positions predetermined by the measured length of the object, and stopped at the positions corresponding to the predetermined length, whereby a band-binding operation is effected. The present apparatus is capable of bandbinding objects at different sizes to be bound with bands at fixed positions, even when they are fed in a random sequence.

Automatic selection of band-binding positions in the present invention means that, if for example three selection mechanisms for band-binding positions are located between the starting point of the operation of push rods and the bandbinding means at positions l/6, 3/6 and 5/6 away from the end of either one, a bandbinding operation is effected on the object to be bound with bands at intervals of the ratios of 1/6, 3/6 and 5/6 which are determined by the selection mechanisms for the band-binding positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a'partial sectional side view of the apparatus showing details thereof;

FIG. 4 is a partial fragmentary plan view of the apparatus showing details thereof;

FIG. 5 is across sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional veiw taken along the line VIVI of FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an electric circuit for operating the present apparatus and consisting of Part (A) which is in operating circuit diagram and Part (B) being an electric power circuit diagram, and

FIG. 8 is a front view of the surface of a switch box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 1 designates a conveyer for transportation of an object P to be bound with bands. Frames 11 are mounted at the front and rear ends of the apparatus and an additional supporting frame 11a is also mounted therebetween nearer to the rear end. The front frame 11 and the frame 11a are provided with rotary shafts 22 and 23, respectively. The shaft; have a plurality of, for example four, respective chain pulleys 2 and 3 mounted thereon at an appropriate distances corresponding to each other, on which chain pulleys are mounted the conveyers 1. It is to be noted that the rotary shaft 23 is composed of two shafts with a space midway therebetween.

Supporting plates 24 and 24a are disposed between the conveyers l and only the two exterior plates 24a are connected with plates 4 arranged on the supporting frame 11 on the rear end of the apparatus. The plates 4 are positioned lower than the upper surface of the conveyers l and have a space therebetween. The surface of the plates 4 is at the same height as the working surface 26 of a band-binding means 25. An arch 26a is intended to provide a band-binding function. One of the shafts 22 for the conveyers l is driven with a chain 29 by a motor M which is mounted on a supporting frame 31, through a reduction gear 41, so that the conveyers 1 are moved at a proper velocity in the direction of the arrow. A pair of guide rods 20 are arranged below the supporting plate 24 and on both sides thereof and secured on supports 27 on the supporting frames 11.

A pair of push rods 12 are slidably mounted on the guide rods 20 right under the supporting plate 24 by supporting elements 28, 28a and 28b. One end of each push rod 12 extends to a point adjacent to the rotary shaft 22 while the other end of the same extends to the other rotary shaft 23. The supporting elements 28a on the one ends of the push rods 12 is provided with a downwardly extending coupling arm 19 which has a laterally extending arm 19a on its lower end. The coupling arm 19 is coupled to a chain 30 which is driven by a motor M through a reduction gear 43 and is controlled to move normally or reversely or to stop by rotation of the motor M A dog 17 is provided on the tip of the arm 19a for operating a switch S The supporting rod 28b has a laterally extending arm 21 which with on its tip a dog 13.

Sliding grooves 10 are supported on the supporting frames 1 1, 11a and other members at the side of the lateral arm 21 of the supporting rod 28b under the plates 4. In the sliding grooves 10 are slidably mounted base plates a, 6a and 7a which are positioned at the positions of 5/6, 3/6 and 1/6 of the whole length of the groove from its end 9 to the ends of push rods 12, respectively, assuming the whole length to be 1. These base plates 50, 6a and 7a have arms 5, 6 and 7 on their upper surfaces, respectively. Switches S S and S, are mounted in line with each other on the ends of the arms 5, 6 and 7, respectively, and engaging members 5b, 6b and 7b are mounted out of line on the lower surfaces of the base plates 5a, 6a and 7a, respectively. These engaging members 5b, 6b and 7b are engaged with chains 35, 36 and 37 driven by rotation of chain pulleys 35a, 36a and 37a, respectively, the gear ratio of which is 5:3:1 and which are secured to a rotary shaft in a bearing 14 mounted on a supporting frame 31.

The rotary shaft 15 is driven by a motor M through a reduction gear 42 and is moved normally or reversely or stopped with normal or reverse rotation or stopping of the motor M The gear ratio of the chain pulleys 35a, 36a and 37a secured to the rotary shaft 15 is selected to be 5:3:1 in the present invention as described above. The chain 35 is coupled to the reduction gear 42 of the motor M and the rotation velocity of the reduction gear is set to be 5/6 of the running velocity of the chain 30 so that the running velocities of the chain 36 and the engaging member 5b driven thereby, the chain 36 and the engaging member 6b, and the chain 37 and the engaging member 7b will be 5/6, 3/6 and U6 of the running velocity of the chain 30 driving the push rods 12, respectively.

Operation of the rotaty shaft 15 causes the base plates 5a, 6a, 7a to slide toward the ends 9 of the sliding grooves 10, so that the switches S S and S are also moved. The positional relationship among the respective switches is maintained in such a manner that the switches 5 S and S are positioned at positions of 5/6, 3/6 and 1/6 from the ends 9 of the sliding grooves 10, assuming the distance between the tips of the push rods 12 and the ends of the grooves 10 to be 1. The arm 5 is provided with a dog 16 adapted to operate the switch S while the arm 6 is provided with a dog 18 adapted to operate the switch S The automatic band-binding means is the same type as the prior art and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

The conveyers 1 are driven by the motor M, being electrically powered and an object P to be bound with bands is put on the conveyers for transportation. The

object to be bound operates the switch 8,, just before the plates 4 so that the conveyers 1 are stopped temporarily and again moved to transfer the objects onto the plates 4. When the switch S is switched on by the ob- 5 ject to be bound with bands, the motors M and M, are

simultaneously energized, so that the push rods 12 advance and the tips thereof run against the rear face of the object and push it until the front face of the object to be bound with bands pushes the switch S mounted at the position corresponding to the end portions 9 of the sliding grooves 10 to switch off the circuit of the motor M so that the chains 35, 36 and 37 are stopped.

This operation is intended to measure the length of the object to be bound with bands and stop the switches S S and S at the positions of 5/6, 3/6 and 1/6 respectively, from the front face of the object placed onthe end portions 9 of the sliding grooves 10.

During this operation, the motor M is continuously energized to drive the chain 30 so that the push rods 12 go on advancing without stopping and pushing the rear portion of the object with their tips. Thus, when the object is pushed onto the working surface 26 of the automatic band-binding means and brought under the arch 26a, the dog 13 of the arm 21 acts on the switch S of the arm 5 so that the motor M is stopped and the bandbinding means 25 is started to effect a band-binding operation. Upon detection of completion of the binding operation, the motor M is again operated to advance the push rods 12 and the dog 13 engages with the switch S of the arm 6 so as to stop the motor M so that the band-binding operation is similarly effected. The dog 13 then engages with the switch S to achieve a band-binding operation.

When the band-binding operation is completed at three places in this way, each operative member will retire and be ready for the next operation.

As a special case, if the switch S is put in an inoperable condition, the dog 13 will act only on the switch S and then the switch S and band-binding can be effected at two places. If both the switches S and S, are put in an inoperable condition, band-binding will be effected at only one place of the central portion i.e. the object to be bound with bands.

If it is desired to change the band-binding positions on the object, an engaging member provided with a switch for generating a starting signal for band-binding in the operational range of the push rods 12 is set at the proper position from the ends of the sliding grooves 10,

and the running velocity of the engaging member ismade proportional to the distance thereof from the ends with respect to the running velocity of the push rods. It is thus possible to select the band-binding positions at will.

The operation as above-mentioned is realized by electrical means and a detailed explanation will be given with reference to the circuit diagram shown in r FIG. 7. Referring now to the electrical power circuit B, the driving motor M for the conveyers 1 and its braking solenoid coll B are controlled by an electromagnetic relay R and the driving motor M for the base plate 5a and other members and the braking solenoid coil B are controlled by on electromagnetic relay R and a reversible electromagnetic relay R The driving motor M for the push rods 12 and the braking solenoid coil B are controlled by an electromagnetic relay R and a reversible electromagnetic relay R In the operation circuit (A), when the electric power switch TS, is switched on, the operating electric power lamp P, is turned on and the electromagnetic relay R,

is energized, so that the conveyers l are actuated.

When the switch S is operated by the object to be bound with bands while being carried, the belt conveyers l are stopped.

Upon depression of a starting push button P8,, auxillary relays R and R are operated. for self-holding and energization of the relay R causes the relay R, to be energized, so that the conveyers 1 are again actuated to transfer the object onto the plates 4. The switch S, is operated by the object placed on the plates 4 so that the relay R is energized for self-holding and the base plates 5a, 6a and 7a are started to move. At the same time, the relay R is operated and the relay R is also operated, so that the push rods 12 start and advance the object placed on the plates 4. Then the switch S mounted at the position corresponding to the ends of the sliding grooves is pressed'by the front face of the object so that the relay R is returned and the base plates 5a, 6a and 7a are stopped. This implies detection of the length of the object to be bound with bands. At the same time, the relay R,,, is returned, it is not by the relay R, that the push rods 12 is subsequently returned. Operation of the switch S, releases self-holding of the relay R and the relay R, is then returned, so that the conveyers l are stopped.

When the base plates 5a, 6a and 70 start, the dog 16 provided on the arm 5 will operate the switch S and the relay R will be operated by another relay R even without operation of the relay R until the relay R isreturned. As the relay R is operated at the same time as starting of the push rods 12, the auxiliary contacts are closed so that the automatic band-binding means is started. When the push rods 12 start, the switch S is operated. Before the push rods 12 are returned so as to operate the switch 8,, again, the relay R, will not be operated. Namely, the relay R, is not operated by the relay R, and, therefore, the objects to be bound with bands are not brought onto the plates 4 right after the respective preceding ones. At the same time, an operative circuit for reversing circuit relays R of the base plates 5a, 6a and 7a is made ready.

The object already measured is advanced by the push rods 12 and the switch S is operated by the dog 13 moving together with the push rods 12, so that the relay R, is returned (Relay R has already been returned). Accordingly, the relay R is returned and the push rods 12 are stopped. At this instant, the automatic bandbinding means effects the first band-binding operation. Upon completion of this working, the switch S in the band-binding means is temporarlly operated to cause self-holding of the relay R and the relay R is then operated, so that the push rods 12 are again started (the switch S, has already been closed).

The dog 13 of the push rods 12 which are advancing the object to be bound with bands operates the switch S to stop the push rods 12. During this time, the second band-binding operation is effected by the bandbinding means. When the band-binding operation is completed, this completion is detected so that the push rods 12 are again started and then the switch S is operated, whereby the push rods 12 are stopped.

Operation of the switch S causes self-holding of the relay R so as to operate a timer T,. After the set time of the timer T,, the electomagnetic relay R will operate and initiate the return of the push rod 12. During this set time and the returning period of the push rods 12, the third band-binding operation is effected. Coincidentally with the return of the push rods 12, the auxiliary contacts of the relay R are closed so that the electromagnetic relay R is operated and the base plates 5a, 6a and 7a begin to return. Operation of the relay R causes self-holding of the relay R As a result, the relay R, is brought into operative condition when the switch S is closed. Upon completion of the return of the base plates 5a, 6a and 7a and the push rods 12, the switches S and 5,, are returned by the dogs 16 and l7'as shown in the drawing and the relay R, is operated to turn the conveyers 1, so that the object to be bound with bands is put onto the plates 4.

S,, is a switch which is operated by a dog 18 attached to the arm 6 and acts as an auxiliary stop switch adapted to operate in case the switch S for stopping the base plates 5a, 6a and 7a is not actuated by the object.

T5 is a changeover switch for the number of feeding times. When it is switched to the position I, the switch S is inoperative so that the switch 5,, will have the same circuit as the switch S and the dog 13 of the push rods 12 passes the switch S and operates the switch S Thus, only one band-binding operation is effected for the object to be bound with bands.

PS is a returning push button switch and is depressed to operate the relays R, and R for returning the base plates 5a, 6a and 7a and the push rods 12 in the event that the apparatus is stopped halfway.

If an automatically or manually operable changeover switch T8 is operated in a manual manner, the relays R and R will not operate while the relays R and R, will, whereby only the conveyers 1 will be driven.

As may be seen from the above, the present invention is such that an object to be bound with bands is measured in length during running just before the binding position; band-binding positions are selected; and then the object is fed a distance corresponding to the proper length thereof and stopped, whereby band-binding is automatically and efficiently effected with certainty at several places or a central place of the object.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands comprising band binding means, push rods for feeding objects to be bound with bands to said band binding means, a plurality of selection means for binding positions located between said band binding means and said push rods at the different intervals corresponding to band binding positions, means for reducing the running velocity of each selection means corresponding to the distance from said band binding means with respect to the running velocity of said push rods, means for stopping said selection means for binding positions when said object reaches a point just ahead of said band binding means and means for stopping said push rods at every stop position of said selection means to permit carrying out of band binding.

2. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 1, further including guide rods, one end of each guide rod extending to a position adjacent to said band binding means, said push rods being guided by said guide rods and movable parallel thereto, a coupling arm on said push rods, a chain arranged parallel to said guide rods for reciprocating said push rods with respect to said band binding means, and coupling means coupling said coupling arm to said chain.

3. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide rods are two parallel rods, one end of each guide rod extending to the position adjacent said band binding means, and said push rods are two rods guided by said respectiveguide rods to move reciprocatively.

4. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 1, wherein said selection includes base plates, sliding grooves disposed parallel to said push rods in which said base plates are mounted, said base plates being placed betweensaid band binding means and said push rods at different distance corresponding to the band binding positions, arms provided on each base plate, and a switch mounted on each arm.

5. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 4, further comprising means for making any of the switches mounted on said base plates inoperative, whereby the number of binding positions can be freely chosen.

6. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for reducing the running velocities of said selection means are chains engaged with the respective base plates mounted in said sliding grooves, chain pulleys with which said chains are engaged at their one ends having a gear ratio proportional to the different distances between the respective base plates and the end portions of said sliding grooves, each chain being moved at a velocity proportional to the distance from the end portions of said sliding grooves with respect to the running speed of said push rods. 7

7. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for reducing the running velocities of said selection means comprise further chain pulleys to which the other ends of said chains are engaged, said further chain pulleys having equal gear ratios, a common shaft on which said further chain pulleys are mounted, and a reduction gear means with which each of said chains is coupled for reducing the advancing velocity of said plates relative to said push rods with a reduction ratio corresponding to the ratio of the distance between the rear end of said sliding grooves and the base plate fixed to the respective ones of the chains to the length of the sliding grooves from the end thereof to the end of said push rods.

8. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 6, wherein said stopping means for said selection means comprises a stopping switch mounted at a position corresponding to the end portion of said sliding grooves, said selection means including a motor for moving said chains for driving said base plates, said stopping switch and said motor being connected so that said motor is stopped when said object comes into contact with said stopping switch.

9. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for stopping the push rods includes dogs mounted on said push rods, push rod chains coupled to said push rods, and a push rod motor coupled to said push rod chains for actuating said push rods, said switches on said base plates being coupled to said push rod motor so that said push rod motor is stopped when said dogs come into contact with the switches on said base plates and, thereafter, a binding operation is effected.

10. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 9 further comprising means for detecting completion of a binding operation coupled to said push rod motor, whereby said push rods are again moved to cause said dogs to come into contact with the switch on the next base plate upon detection of completion of the binding operation. 

1. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands comprising band binding means, push rods for feeding objects to be bound with bands to said band binding means, a plurality of selection means for binding positions located between said band binding means and said push rods at the different intervals corresponding to band binding positions, means for reducing the running velocity of each selection means corresponding to the distance from said band binding means with respect to the running velocity of said push rods, means for stopping said selection means for binding positions when said object reaches a point just ahead of said band binding means and means for stopping said push rods at every stop position of said selection means to permit carrying out of band binding.
 2. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 1, further including guide rods, one end of each guide rod extending to a position adjacent to said band binding means, said push rods being guided by said guide rods and movable parallel thereto, a coupling arm on said push rods, a chain arranged parallel to said guide rods for reciprocating said push rods with respect to said band binding means, and coupling means coupling said coupling arm to said chain.
 3. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide rods are two parallel rods, one end of each guide rod extending to the position adjacent said band binding means, and said push rods are two rods guided by said respective guide rods to move reciprocatively.
 4. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 1, wherein said selection includes base plates, sliding grooves disposed parallel to said push rods in which said base plates are mounted, said base plates being placed between said band binding means and said push rods at different distance corresponding to the band binding positions, arms provided on each base plate, and a switch mounted on each arm.
 5. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 4, further comprising meAns for making any of the switches mounted on said base plates inoperative, whereby the number of binding positions can be freely chosen.
 6. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for reducing the running velocities of said selection means are chains engaged with the respective base plates mounted in said sliding grooves, chain pulleys with which said chains are engaged at their one ends having a gear ratio proportional to the different distances between the respective base plates and the end portions of said sliding grooves, each chain being moved at a velocity proportional to the distance from the end portions of said sliding grooves with respect to the running speed of said push rods.
 7. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for reducing the running velocities of said selection means comprise further chain pulleys to which the other ends of said chains are engaged, said further chain pulleys having equal gear ratios, a common shaft on which said further chain pulleys are mounted, and a reduction gear means with which each of said chains is coupled for reducing the advancing velocity of said plates relative to said push rods with a reduction ratio corresponding to the ratio of the distance between the rear end of said sliding grooves and the base plate fixed to the respective ones of the chains to the length of the sliding grooves from the end thereof to the end of said push rods.
 8. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 6, wherein said stopping means for said selection means comprises a stopping switch mounted at a position corresponding to the end portion of said sliding grooves, said selection means including a motor for moving said chains for driving said base plates, said stopping switch and said motor being connected so that said motor is stopped when said object comes into contact with said stopping switch.
 9. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for stopping the push rods includes dogs mounted on said push rods, push rod chains coupled to said push rods, and a push rod motor coupled to said push rod chains for actuating said push rods, said switches on said base plates being coupled to said push rod motor so that said push rod motor is stopped when said dogs come into contact with the switches on said base plates and, thereafter, a binding operation is effected.
 10. An apparatus for automatic binding with bands as set forth in claim 9 further comprising means for detecting completion of a binding operation coupled to said push rod motor, whereby said push rods are again moved to cause said dogs to come into contact with the switch on the next base plate upon detection of completion of the binding operation. 